See Sheridan Morley's Theatre Collection at Kingston University

Ruth Leon in the Sheridan Morley archive

His address book was a Who’s Who of the film and theatre world - with Laurence Olivier, John Gielgud, Marlene Dietrich and Noel Coward among the many household names who were his personal friends. During his lifetime, author, critic and broadcaster Sheridan Morley amassed a library of books, personal letters, cards, and memorabilia from showbiz royalty – enough to fill 90 crates. Now one of the most important private theatre and film collections of the 20^th century will be made available to the public by Kingston University, thanks to a donation by his widow, author, critic and broadcaster Ruth Leon.
 

Born in Ascot, Berkshire, Morley spent part of his childhood in Hollywood and grew up immersed in the world of theatre before going up to Oxford. The Redgrave children were great friends and Joanna Lumley a distant cousin. In addition to writing more than 30 books, Morley worked as a critic for many national newspapers, presented radio and television shows – including Radio 4’s Kaleidoscope and the Radio 2 Arts Programme – and appeared on game shows such as Call My Bluff and Countdown.  First Noel Coward and then Gielgud chose him to write their revealing authorised biographies and, with his wife, he also wrote books about Marilyn Monroe, Gene Kelly and Judy Garland amongst many others.

After her husband died in 2007, Ruth decided the library needed a new home, and felt strongly that the collection should be kept together and available to everyone. She began discussions with top UK and US institutions including Juilliard and Yale, but settled on Kingston after being shown around by Sir Peter Hall, the Chancellor.

“Everyone from actors to school children used to come to our house to use the library. If you wanted a book and couldn’t find it in your library you went to Ruth and Sheridan’s because the chances were we had the book, some pretty good coffee and the chance of having a good gossip too. When I decided to donate the library to a university I didn’t want it to be hidden away but to be used, just as it was in our house.”

Kingston seemed like the ideal place. “Sheridan would have liked the liveliness, the fact it’s a new university and that people come here from all over the world, so the knowledge they gain is spread far and wide,” Ruth added.

Sheridan Morley in his library
 

Known as The Sheridan Morley Theatre Collection, the archive will be housed in the University’s Learning Resources Centre at the Penrhyn Road campus. Students, academics and members of the public will be able to access more than 4,000 books on theatre, film and performance, many signed by actors or authors – including Ginger Rogers. Hundreds of letters from the theatre and writing world including Laurence Olivier, Richard Attenborough, Daphne Du Maurier, Melvyn Bragg, Iris Murdoch, Vanessa Redgrave and Tony Britton will also be housed in the collection. Other items of interest include scrapbooks, magazines and theatre programmes. 

Among the many highlights giving an insight into the behind-the-scenes world of stage and screen are gossipy letters from Gielgud, often commenting on his fellow actors’ talents – or rather, their lack of them. There are many letters from Sheridan’s father, actor Robert Morley, including one written while he was working with Alfred Hitchcock, whom he describes as “a highly nervous, umbrage-taking neurotic, who picks an opponent at the outset ... and keeps firing at him wildly”. Marlene Dietrich wrote to thank Morley for a review, adding, “I had photostats made and sent them to all the intelligent people I know.”
 

Other fascinating items of memorabilia include a programme for a charity fete for the Actors’ Orphanage Fund showing Vivien Leigh on the cigarette stand, Maurice Chevalier selling ice cream and Laurence Olivier running the game of chance, and a school report which states the 13-year-old Morley could “earn his living by writing”. There is also a scale model of a stage set of a 1997 production of Noel and Gertie, a play devised by Morley as a tribute to Noel Coward and Gertrude Lawrence.
 

Professor Gail Cunningham, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Kingston University, described the collection as one of the most important theatre and film archives in private hands. “It adds insight into the lives of virtually every significant theatrical figure of the twentieth century and is a superb resource that will benefit researchers everywhere, from international experts to students and the general public,” Professor Cunningham said. “We are thrilled and privileged to have this wonderful collection at Kingston University.”

A set model included in the collection
 

The Sheridan Morley Theatre Collection will be officially launched with a VIP reception on July 6. It will available free of charge for everyone to visit from July 7 onwards.

The archives will be open on a drop-in basis on Tuesday July 7, Wednesday 8 and Thursday 9 between 11.00am and 3.00pm, and thereafter by calling Katie Giles on 020 8417 7054 or emailing archives@kingston.ac.uk to arrange a visit.

Summer Craft

Pressing Flowers



Preserve your favourite flowers by pressing them. Then use them to create your own hand made gifts. such as book marks and greeting cards. They can also be framed, put into scrapbooks or used for decoration. 

You Will Need
 

·  Fresh flowers
·  Plain paper
·  Heavy books

How to press your flowers
 

1. For best result make sure you pick your flowers at their freshest and press when there is no moisture on them.

2. Place the flowers between a sheet of folded paper as shown above to protect the pages of your book.

3. Before pressing your flowers, decide how you would like them look after you have pressed them. Avoid allowing parts to overlap unless for artistic effect. Leaves should normally be laid out flat.

4. If you plan to press large batches of flowers, make sure you leave sufficient space between each of your pressings. Then weigh down with a few heavy books on top. And leave for a few weeks.

4. If you are looking for faster results, flowers can also be pressed in the microwave (but make sure you use old books - perhaps from a charity shop). Put the book with the flowers and paper in a microwave and zap in short bursts (30 seconds at a time) checking between each burst to see if they are done. Repeat until almost done, and then put in another book to finish.

* Handy tip - use your pressed flowers to make greeting cards and book marks. You can also frame them or stick them in scrapbooks. It's also a great hobby to enjoy with your grandchildren.

Dress up your table

Sugar Pink and Chocolate Butterfly Tree Centrepiece

Make this pretty Pink and Chocolate Butterfly Tree centrepiece to brighten up your table or window sill. This project is created by HobbyCraft

You Will Need
 

·  Natural ting ting
·  White spray paint
·  White and pink glitter butterflies
·  Brown organza stick-on bows
·  Brown organza ribbon
·  Clear acrylic vase

·  Glass nuggets
·  Coloured sand
·  Glue

How to make the Centrepiece
 

1. Spray the natural ting ting white and trim to the desired length.

2. Using brown organza ribbon, tie the ting ting together and make a large bow.

3. Decorate with stick-on bows and butterflies, using strong glue to hold in place.

4. Place the ting ting tree in a vase with glass nuggets and coloured sand to hold in place.

* Handy tip - if you don't have ting ting use any dried flower stems or plants.

For more information about HobbyCraft projects to make visit the website at www.hobbycraft.co.uk